(Hebrew. *‘Anointed One’) A charismatic figure who would restore the Israelite kingdom. Messianic speculation flourished in the inter-testamental period and included an anointed king, a righteous *priest and a *prophet of the final days. The idea of a messiah descended from King *David became central during the Roman occupation and there were several claimants such as Jesus and Simeon *bar Kokhba.
The *sages taught that the Davidic messiah would be preceded by the Messiah ben Joseph. When the Messiah ben David established the messianic age, *God’s Kingdom would be established on earth and all nations would turn to *Jerusalem. Belief in the coming of the *messiah was included in *Maimonides’ Principles of the Jewish Faith and *Shabbetai Zevi was believed to have fulfilled the *prophecies. In general the *Progressive movements have rejected belief in a personal messiah and instead focus on some golden age in the future. In some circles, the establishment of the State of *Israel has been understood as the start of the messianic redemption although many secular Israelis reject any form of messianic speculation. (See also *MESSIANIC MOVEMENTS).
This is the complete article, containing 182 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
